Rick's Picks: It's East vs. West in Downingtown battle
It's Week 10, and that means the qualifiers in the revamped District 1 playoffs - the PIAA expanded from four to six classifications this year - will be finalized.
It's Week 10, and that means the qualifiers in the revamped District 1 playoffs - the PIAA expanded from four to six classifications this year - will be finalized.
On top of that, West Catholic and Cardinal O'Hara will meet to decide the Catholic League Blue Division title.
Staying in the Catholic League, the winner of the Red Division clash between Father Judge and Roman Catholic will take on second-place La Salle in a 6A league semifinal next weekend; the loser gets front-runner and undefeated St. Joseph's Prep.
Marple Newtown, Ridley, and Springfield are tied atop the Central League standings going into Friday night.
For the 13th time since Downingtown split in 2003, crosstown rivals Downingtown East and Downingtown West will square off in the Battle of the Brandywine at energized Kottmeyer Stadium. East has a 7-5 lead in the head-to-head series and won five of the last six meetings.
The Pioneer Athletic Conference, which split into two divisions this season, will crown a champion. Perkiomen Valley, the Liberty Division's first-place finisher, will visit Frontier Division winner Pottsgrove.
This weekend also marks the start of the Public League Class 6A, 5A, 4A, and 3A playoffs. With first-round playoff byes, Imhotep Charter (4A) will visit Northeast (6A) in an Independence Division contest originally scheduled for Sept. 9.
In District 1 6A, North Penn (9-0), Neshaminy (9-0), Perkiomen Valley (9-0), Coatesville (8-1), Central Bucks South (7-2), Ridley (8-1), Downingtown East (7-2) and Spring-Ford (7-2) currently hold the top eight spots in what will be a 16-team field.
Penn Wood (7-2) and Souderton (5-4), tied for 13th place. Number 15 Pennridge (5-4), No. 16 Haverford High (6-3), No. 17 Bensalem (5-4), and No. 18 Downingtown West (4-5) are among the 6A bubble teams.
Sixteen of the 26 District 1 5A teams will qualify for the playoffs. Springfield (8-1), Academy Park (8-1), Marple Newtown (8-1), Upper Dublin (7-1), West Chester Henderson (6-3) and Bishop Shanahan (6-3) are part of the lead pack.
Number 13 Strath Haven (4-5), No. 14 Upper Moreland (5-4), No. 15 Penncrest (3-6), No. 16 Radnor (3-6) and No. 17 Chichester (3-5) are hoping to join the 5A playoff party.
Pick Six
1
West Catholic (5-4) at No. 24 Cardinal O'Hara (8-0), Friday, 7 p.m. Two of the area's top receivers, the Burrs' Amadou Barry and the Lions' Justin Santilla, are featured.
Pick: O'Hara, 23-21.
2
No. 9 Downingtown East (7-2) at Downingtown West (4-5), Friday, 7 p.m. West's last series win, in 2013, came on a two-point conversion pass with 2 minutes remaining.
Pick: East, 31-14.
3
Father Judge (4-5) at Roman Catholic (3-6), Friday, 7 p.m. The motivation for winning is to avoid a playoff opener against D'Andre Swift and red-hot St. Joe's Prep.
Pick: Roman, 28-27.
4
No. 16 Penn Charter (5-1) at No. 20 Episcopal Academy (6-1), Friday, 7 p.m. Lefty quarterback Mike Hnatkowsky and the Quakers outlasted the Churchmen, 42-35, last season.
Pick: EA, 20-13.
5
No. 5 Perkiomen Valley (9-0) at Pottsgrove (6-3), Friday, 7 p.m. The Falcons' upset bid hinges on their ability to contain the Vikings' explosive passing attack.
Pick: PV, 36-12.
6
No. 17 Germantown Academy (6-1) at No. 10 Malvern Prep (4-3), Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Zac Fernandez's all-around efforts are key to ending the Patriots' six-game win streak.
Pick: Malvern, 24-16.
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